trad
Collected in Yorkshire, can be traced back to the seventeenth century. Earliest remaining printed version from 1888, but recorded as early as 1685. Apparently the Duke of Buckingham who died in 1685 loved hunting and spent his last days in Helmsley in North Yorkshire, and numerous locations in this vicinity are mentioned in a longer version of this song. “Bendigo” is apparently a corruption of “Spandigo” which is a corruption of “Spanker”.
As I was a-walking one morning last autumn I’ve overheard some noble foxhunting, Between two noblemen and the Duke of Buckingham, Right early before the day was dawning. Chorus There was Dido, Bendigo, Gentry he was there-o, Traveller, he never looked behind him; There was Countess, Rover, Bonny Lass and Jover, These were the hounds that could find him. Now the first fox being young and his trial’s just beginning, He’s made straight away for the cover; He’s gone up yon highest hill and gone down yon lowest gill, Thinking that he’d find his freedom there for ever. Now the next fox being ould and his trial’s fast a-dawning, He’s made straight away for the river; Why the fox he has jumped in, but the hound jumped after him, It was Traveller a-striding in for ever. Now the fox went ower the plain but he soon returned again, The fox nor the hounds never failing; It’s been just twelve month today since I heard the squire say, “Hark forrard then, me brave hounds, for ever.”